Every now and then, you get a foster case with absolutley no hope. A dog too far gone from human neglect, and the afflictions brought on by that abuse. In those cases, you can only be there for them, until the time comes to set them free from their pain and suffering. This is the most difficult task one has to face. As an abandoned dog’s advocate, you must monitor their pain closely, and realize when the time right is to release them from their suffering. It is a decision that does not come easy, nor lightly, but this burden is the ultimate form of caring. At a time when an living being needs another so much, the greatest thing you can give is your love and comfort. It is the same as when you lose your own family. Perhaps you have not had years of companionship, but the bond of a dog can be fast and furious and leave a lasting impression on the human psyche. It is a task to rise to, to accept with courage and to perform with the utmost love.

This is what I was faced with recently, while fostering one of the worst cases of neglect I have ever witnessed. But although the situation was dire and the causes grim, my foster companion remained his true beautiful self…a loving , happy dog. It is strength that propelled me to love him as much as humanly possible in the short time he had left. To see the inner beauty of a creature so forgiving of the evils of man. Such an experience touches you in a place deep inside. Never to be forgotten and always to be cherished.